This video is by Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, founder and president of Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem.
"The Christians in Gaza belong to the oldest Christian community in the world, going back to the first century. In the fourth century, Gaza was a major Christian mission hub until 1948. Gaza, located in a major trade route, with a vibrant port was a cosmopolitan city, very affluent and thriving. Today there are less than 1000 Christians living in Gaza. Two-thirds of them are Greek Orthodox, one-third Roman Catholic. Their roots are deeply rooted in that city. Yet around half of them are displaced people, refugees from 1948 from Jaffa and Lydda. Yet this small community [keeps playing] a major role in their society, running eight institutions, five schools, one hospital and two vocational educational centers. Christians in Gaza played a major role in the Palestinian national involvement throughout the century. The dire situation in Gaza, the largest open air prison in the world where they see the water there are polluted with high unemployment and five wars within 15 years, led many Christians to leave Gaza. The majority of Gazan Christians today, they live in the city of Gaza in al-Rimal neighborhood, a neighborhood that was bombarded by Israel. They fled to the two churches in the Old City, thinking they will find their refuge and the safe place. Yet Israel targeted the assembly hall of the Greek Orthodox Church, killing 20 people and injuring 14. The Christians in Gaza shared the same aspiration with their Muslim neighbors, sisters, and brothers. They demand an end to the occupation, a just and lasting peace, so that they can keep their hope alive, where it's all started."
On Oct. 21, 2023, heads of churches and patriarchs via Kairos Palestine called for an end to this war, this genocide, their statement can be found here in Arabic.
On Oct. 11, via Kairos Palestine they put out a statement on the war on Gaza, which can be found in English here and in other languages here.
For more information about Kairos Palestine, the issuance and word of Christian Palestinians' published in 2009 to the world about what is happening in Palestine, click here.
